Coupling for electric conductors



Oct. 11, 1938. PENNELLv 2,132,967

COUPLII IG FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS 4 Filed Aug. 15, 1936 v ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 1-1, 1938 UNIT D STATES PATENTPOFFICE I commoner: si ma commc'roas muffijfi ETTJILZLXRM Other objects of the invention are to provide extended bearing of the two conductors on each other, to insure their remaining in the intended relation to each other and to avoid cutting or de- 15 facing of a conductor by the clamping mechato a ground rod and a grounding wire.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through th coupling taken on the line 22 of Figure 3 and showing the conductors inelevation.

Figure 3 is an end view of the coupling and conductors.

Figure 4 is a transversesection through the coupling and conductors taken on the line H of Figure 1.

b Figure -5 is a detail perspective on one part of the coupling.

Figures 6. '7 and 8 correspond to Figures 1, 4 and 5 but illustrate a modified structure.

Figure 9 is a detail vertical transverse sec 5;, tion through another modification.

The coupling shown in Figures 1 to 5 com-- prises a sleeve I, a bearing member 2, and a (gclamping means 3. Sleeve I has a flat top 4, substantiallystraight sides 5, and a rounded bottom 6, preferably having a radius corresponding to the radius of the larger conductor for which the coupling is intended.

Member 2 is of plate-like formation, having an elongated recessed lower bearing face I and a substantially flat upper face 8 which may be provided with a recess 9 to receive the inner end of means 3 which preferably comprises a set screw threadedinto the top wall 4 of the sleeve.

Member 2 is formed initially with longitudinally' projecting lugs l and laterally projecting lugs ll. Lugs II will engage the end face of sleeve i when the member is slipped into the sleeve, and lugs in may be bent outwardly after assembly to retain member 2 in the sleeve, The interengaging elements of sleeve I and member 2 prov Figure 1 is a's'ide view of the coupling applied ces'sed face I of member 2 formsan opposing seat for grounding wire II. The opposing seats serve to center the rod l2 and wire IS in the sleeveand to maintain their parallel relation and thereby avoid the rod and wire assuming an an; gular relation to each other which would result in a point contact between them instead of. a line contact. which is preferable.

The recessed bearing in member 2 maintains a straight line thrust from the set screw 3 through the centersof the wire and rod so that all the thrust provided by the set screw is transferred to the wire and rod and is not transmit ted in part to the side wall of the sleeve as it might be if the wire was free to move to one side or the other of the rod, which would reduce the efliciency of the device so far as maintaining the tight. contact between'the wire and rod. Member 2 distributes the thrust of set screw 3 to the wire throughout'the length of the sleeve, further assuring extended and permanent contact' between the wire and rod and avoiding cutting of the wire by the end of the screw The endsof the hearing 'I in member 2 may be flared, as indicated at la, to guide to the central location the end of wire I! /being inserted into the device.

Preferably the ends'of sleeve l are recessed as indicated at H to accommodate lugs Ill and IL and maintain a common length of bearing for the rod and wire. These recesses may be omitted, but member 2 must be lengthened accordingly. The upwardly facing shoulders formed by recesses I4 engage lugs I I) and H to limit the movement of member 2 downwardly in the sleeve and prevent its removal by tilting transversely of the sleeve. The modification illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8'comprises a similar general arrangement but the sleeve l5 has vertically elongated slots IS in its side-walls and the slidable bearing member I! has a single pair of lugs l8 projecting through slots I6 to maintain the assembly of the member and the sleeve. Lugs l8 are originally formed as shown in Figure 8 and after the device is assembled these lugs are bent outwardly as shown in Figure 7. The device shown in Figures 6, '7 and 8 functions identically as the device previously described and possesses the same advantages.

It is within the scope of the invention to maintain the assembly of the sleeve and clamping member by means other; than lugs on the clamping member slidably engaging the sleeve, and

tures previously described, but the latter has rivet-like projection 21 on its lower end. The

clamping member 22 has a recess 23 in its under faceand an opening through tlge top of the mem= her. The rivet 2| projects through the opening into the recess where it is riveted over a washer 24 to hold the elamping member to the set screw. Since the width of the clamping member is greater than the diameter of the opening for theset screw; the latter could not be removed from the sleeve. In this construction, recess 23 gireferably is made deep enough so that the groundingwire 25 will engage the sides of therecess before engaging the end of rivet 2|. 5;

The device may be varied in other respects than those described without departing from the spirit of the invention andsthe exclusive use of such claims is contemplated.

I claim: V n

1. In a device of the class described, a rigid body with integral top, bottom and side vgalls forming' a closed annulus, saidbttom wall forming a substantially continuous coiicave hearing from end to end of the body, the ram and rear edges of said side walls having upwardly facing shoulderssubstantbially one half the distance between said top and bottom walls, said top wall having a circular opening, a clamping screw threaded into said opening and movable towards and from said bottom wall, and a plate beneath said screw extending substantially throughout the length of said body and forming a concave bearing opposing said bottom wall bearing, said plate having end lugs projecting over said. shoulders andrbeyond theed ges of said body side walls above said shoulders tri prevent rotation of said plate in said body and thereby maintain the assembly of said body and plate irrespective of the presence ofjsaid screw and to hold said plate spaced substantially from said bottom wall irrespective of the presence of a wire or sable in the device. j:

2. In a device "of the class described, an open ended sleeve in the form of an elongated rigid loop having continuous side and bottoin elements, said top element having a circular tapped hole with an axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of said loop, a plate for overlying a conduit passed through said sleevejsaid plate being disposed in a plane extending tjiansversely of said axes and being slidabie axially of said loop and having e; rs bent around the ends of said side elements to prevent the plate moving through the open ends of the sleeve; a clamping screw threaded into said hole and engaging said plate, the inside width of said sleeve loop being substantially less than the length of the same, and shoulders formed on the ends of said sleeve side elements substantially intermediate said top and bottom elements and engaging said ears to limit the sliding movement of said plateand to limit its twisting movement out of said plane and thereby prevent said'n iember being disposed with its width extending vertically of said sleeve and free to move outwardly therefromu g; s

3. In a device of the class described; a rigid body with top, bottom-and side walls forming a closed annulus, said bottom wall forming an elonwall bearing, said plate having en'ci portions projecting over said shoulders; and across the edges of said body sideiwalls above said shoulders to prevent rotation elf said plate in said body and movement of said plate through the body annulus and thereby maintain the assembly of said body and plate irrespective of said means and to hold said plate spaced substantially from said bottom wall irrespective of a wire or cable in the device.

Poms PENNELL. 

